This 1927 Harley-Davidson is believed to be one of less than 50 FHA 8-Valve racers built from 1916 to 1928 It sold last Monday for $600,000 to an Australian bidder after a fiercely competitive bidding war at the Shannon’s Melbourne Spring Auction. Initially it was expected to sell for around $100,000. This 1927 Harley was the fastest produced during the time period and was never made available for public sale but only offered to up-and-coming racers. The sidecar was added to the bike after it was purchased and can be angled to adapt to the track the bike was running on. The last time it was raced was in 1940, then kept in stoorage. This 1927 Harley has never been restored and the new owner declared that he will leave it is in its original condition.

I don’t know why some people complain when wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff, I think it’s cool as hell and it doesn’t cost me a penny! Big prices for old iron can only do good things toward the preservation of antiquity, & some poor soul might even get a few extra dollars for an old machine they have on hand as a result in popularity of wealthy collectors now hunting up the “next old machine hiding in the cob webs”.

@ Dave-Jealousy, some folks get bitter just because somebody else got a bigger ice cream cone. Was that a crazy price for that rig? Of course, but the buyer didn’t steal part of my paycheck to purchase it so I sure don’t care how much he paid. Seriously, how many folks here would have actually wanted to buy it anyway?

“…wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff, I think it’s cool as hell and it doesn’t cost me a penny..”
“… the buyer didn’t steal part of my paycheck to purchase it so I sure don’t care how much he paid…”

Well, another perspective is that the notoriety can be a problem.
For example:
In order to get a 42 FL insured the insurance underwriter insisted on a professional appraisal.
The official appraisal cam back at $26K. When asked for a rationalization, the appraiser said most WWII era overhead HDs were 61ci knuckle, but this one was a very rear 74ci Police bike, hence the “optimistic” appraisal.

So What…???
Well, instead of having a nice old bike to ride around and enjoy, now i have to guard it so it doesn’t end up in a transportation headed overseas. All because a bunch of “..wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff…” i’m having trouble enjoying my cool old stuff……

Nicker,
You’re just gonna have to move to Kentucky, dude. We just don’t really have those kinds of problems out here in the boonies.
Seriously, sorry you got boned on the insurance cost. Enjoy that ’42 man!

@ nicker – I hear you, and usually love your comments, but I think you’re being overly sensitive on this. A few huge price bikes like this aren’t much more than a spike in the general market and certainly aren’t moving the everyday prices into the stratosphere. If you don’t feel your bike is worth anywhere’s near $26K why not insure it for less? Personally, I’d consider it a compliment that the world seems to appreciate your good taste in rides.